There’s good news and bad news when it comes to this weekend.
First the good news:
There are some amazing summer events you won’t want to miss.
Now the bad news:
There’s possibly too many great events for one weekend, meaning you have the difficult task of deciding which events to attend, and which ones you will have to miss out on.
We feel your pain. Here’s how bad it gets…
On Saturday there is the Pleasure Point Street Fair, Woodies on the Wharf, Hop ‘N Barley Beer & BBQ Festival in Scotts Valley, the 41st annual Strawberry Festival downtown, and the Sip & Stroll wine tasting event in Soquel Village…all at the same time!
We hope you enjoy the weekend, whatever you decide to do. See the full list of events below:
Friday
Chicago, The Musical
When: 6/24 – 6/25 at 7:30 pm, 6/26 at 2:00 pm
Where: Cabrillo Crocker Theater
Cost: $16 – $45
Expect song, dance, and all that jazz at this encore production of Chicago, the Musical. Cabrillo Stage has been bringing us Broadway summer musicals for 35 years. Catch Chicago now and Fiddler on the Roof later this summer.
Free Friday Night Bands on the Beach: Blue Öyster Cult
When: 6/24 at 6:30 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Cost: Free
Enjoy the second free Friday Night Bands on the Beach this Friday when Blue Öyster Cult comes to town. Come on baby, don’t fear the reaper!
Also on Friday
- Yellowjackets @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center
- Joe Ferrara @ Shadowbrook Restaurant
- China Cats @ Don Quixote’s
- Pawn Shop Soul @ Crow’s Nest
- JESUS DIAZ Y SU QBA – Album Release Celebration @ Moe’s Alley
- The Redlight District, The Fighting Murrays @ The Crepe Place
- Billy Martini Show @ Severino’s
- Dangerous Neighbor’s The Dream Killers @ Center Street Theater
- Argentine Tango Dancing @ Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center
- Circle Time @ Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery
- Story Time! @ Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery
- Sensory Play @ Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery
- Watsonville Farmers Market @ Downtown Watsonville Plaza
- In Search of Other Giants @ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Campfire Program: Nature’s Supermarket @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Junior Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Big Basin Nature Club @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Want to see all the best events in Santa Cruz every weekend? Click here to get these Weekend Roundup posts delivered straight to your inbox.Saturday
The Joy of Gardening UC Master Gardeners of Monterey Bay Boot Camp
When: 6/25 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Horticulture Center of Cabrillo College
Cost: $50
Gardening enthusiasts will love this boot camp, held at the Horticulture Center at Cabrillo College. Pick and choose from 18 classes, including water conservation, irrigation systems, permaculture, and much more.
Soquel Village Sip & Stroll Wine Walk
When: 6/25 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Where: Soquel Village
Cost: $30 – $36
Enjoy wine, live music in the park, and everything Soquel Village has to offer during this Saturday’s “Sip and Stroll” event. A portion of the proceeds will support Soquel Elementary’s new garden project.
4th Annual Pleasure Point Street Fair
When: 6/25 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Portola Drive between 41st and 38th Avenues, Santa Cruz
Cost: Free admission
After only three short years, the Pleasure Point Street Fair has already become a community favorite. This year’s event will feature 8 local bands, and a kids zone with craft stations hosted by Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery. The Santa Cruz Boardroom will once again hold a skate competition, and there will be plenty to eat, drink and keep you entertained with an expanded beer garden and nearly 100 vendors. Proceeds benefit the Jay Moriarty Foundation.
Woodies On The Wharf
When: 6/25 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf
Cost: Free admission
The 22nd Annual Woodies on the Wharf comes to town this weekend. Check out over 200 wood-bodied cars, many in perfect condition, out on the Santa Cruz Wharf. Be sure to stay to the end for the parade off the wharf.
Hop N’ Barley Beer & BBQ Festival
When: 6/25 at 10:00 am
Where: Skypark
Cost: Beer Tasting $40.00, Enter Only $5, Kids under 10 years are Free
The 7th Hop N’ Barley Festival brings over 60 breweries & 10 ciders to Skypark in Scotts Valley. There will be live music on two stages, food, beer games, and lots of fun for the whole family, including dogs.
Strawberry Festival
When: 6/25 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Walnut Ave. Women’s Center
The 41st Annual Strawberry Festival has a lot to offer. Kids will love the arts & crafts, games and bounce house. There will be live music from local bands, including Coffee Zombie Collective. Food trucks will be on site and you won’t want to miss the homemade jam contest. Proceeds benefit the Walnut Ave. Family and Women’s Center.
Rocking Horse Birthday Party
When: 6/25 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Where: Bookshop Santa Cruz
Help Bookshop Santa Cruz celebrate their 50th Anniversary year with this unique event. If you have kids then there’s a good chance you are aware of the Bookshop mascot: the Rocking Horse. It sits back in the children’s section of the store, and has been enjoyed by countless kids over the years. Come by Bookshop on Saturday to celebrate the Bookshop mascot and enjoy games, cake, and a visit from Frog and Toad.
Chicago, The Musical
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Saturday
- Ugly Beauty Plays Beautiful Jazz @ Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn
- Samba Cruz Trio in Concert @ Ananda Scotts Valley Yoga
- Claudio Melega in the Rockroom Lounge @ Shadowbrook Restaurant
- The Santa Cruz Chorale presents Stravinsky’s MASS @ Holy Cross Church
- The Beggar Kings @ Don Quixote’s
- The D’oh Bros @ Crow’s Nest
- ISRAEL VIBRATION & Roots Radics @ Moe’s Alley
- Casket Girls, Stardeath & The White Dwarfs, Night School @ The Crepe Place
- David Bromberg Quintet @ Rio Theater
- Shotgun Suitor @ Severino’s
- The True Olive Connection Tasting & Fundraiser for BirchBark @ TTOC 7960 Soquel Dr., Aptos
- Aptos Farmers Markets @ Aptos Farmers’ Market
- Scotts Valley Farmers Market @ Scotts Valley Community Center
- Westside Farmers Market @ Westside Farmers’ Market
- Pop-up Breakfast Series @ the Scotts Valley Farmer’s Market
- Meditating with the Redwoods @ Redwood Amphitheater, Ben Lomond
- Santa Cruz Core Anniversary Party @ Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab
- Animal Shelter Relief Rescue Adoption Fair @ PetSmart
- Volunteer to feed the hungry with Food Not Bombs @ US Post Office, Downtown Santa Cruz
- Arts & Tinker Time @ Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery
- Dangerous Neighbor’s The Dream Killers @ Center Street Theater
- Campfire Programs @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Wilder Ranch Coast Nature Walks @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Wilder Ranch Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tours @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Junior Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Big Basin Nature Club @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Coffee Talk and Crafts @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Snakes Alive! @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Family Discovery Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- New Brighton Summer Concert Series @ New Brighton State Beach
Keep up with us all weekend long, and see which events we’re attending, by following Santa Cruz Life on Instagram.Sunday
Archery Santa Cruz Birthday Bash
When: 6/26 from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm
Where: Archery Santa Cruz
Pop in throughout the day and wish Archery Santa Cruz a happy first birthday! Festivities include Hover Ball and Open Hours, a raffle, potluck, movie and popcorn, and Novelty Night.
Art & Music at the Beach 2016
When: 6/26 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Esplanade Park
Cost: Free
Capitola’s beachside Esplanade Park transforms into a local artist’s fair today and multiple Sundays throughout the summer. This Sunday, enjoy the joyful sounds of Singing Wood Marimba as you shop by the sea.
Chicago, The Musical
See Description Under Friday Section
Also on Sunday
- Rich & The Rhythm Roustabouts at Swing Set Lounge @ Pacific Arts Complex
- Buckethead @ The Catalyst
- Garcia Van Dylan featuring The Dewey Paul Band @ Don Quixote’s
- Live Comedy @ Crow’s Nest
- The Santa Cruz Chorale presents Stravinsky’s MASS @ Holy Cross Church
- KABAKA PYRAMID & The Bebble Rockers + O.A.C. @ Moe’s Alley
- Open Bluegrass Jam @ The Crepe Place
- Babewatch, Buddies @ The Crepe Place
- Star Trek Opera: Menagerie — the Trial of Spock @ Music Center Recital Hall
- Paddle Out for Orlando in Solidarity @ West Cliff Drive Cowell’s Stairs
- CWC Meander Progressive Dinner (SOLD OUT) @ San Lorenzo Park Benchlands
- Sunday Seaside Crafts @ Seymour Marine Center
- Shark Science Week @ Seymour Marine Center
- Arts & Tinker Time @ Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery
- Live Oak Farmers Market @ 15th and Eastcliff Dr.
- Campfire Programs @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Wilder Ranch Living History Demonstrations and Ranch Tours @ Wilder Ranch State Park
- Redwood Grove Loop Walk @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Junior Rangers @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Big Basin Nature Club @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Discover Big Basin Redwoods @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Outlook from Mt. McAbee @ Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Featured Upcoming Event
4th of July is just around the corner. We’ve gathered all the top events throughout Santa Cruz County in our annual 4th of July Guide. From pancake breakfasts and afternoon parades to fireworks, you’ll find it all here.
What: 4th of July Events
Where: Throughout Santa Cruz County
When: Monday, 4th of July
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